Marine Advisory 07/2022 - Guidance for Management of COVID-19 Onboard Vessels

07 March, 2022

Marine Advisory 07/2022

Subject: Guidance for Management of COVID-19 Onboard Vessels

The purpose of this Marine Advisory is to provide guidance to shipowners, operators and seafarers concerning plans and procedures that should be implemented for the protection of the health of the crew, to prepare vessels for shore personnel to board, actions to take in the event of a suspected positive case onboard, including contacting authorities and disembarking sick crew.

Protection of the Health of Seafarers

Shipowners, operators and seafarers are encouraged to consider implementing the numerous measures in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published a practical guide to assist ship operators in implementing measures for the protection of the health of vessels’ crew. The ICS guidance covers the following areas:

• Port entry restrictions;
• Shipboard measures to address risks associated with COVID-19, including: a) Protective and Hygiene Measures; b) Measures to manage the Ship/shore Interface; c) Measures to Manage Embarkation and Disembarkation during the COVID-19 Pandemic;
• Managing COVID-19 onboard when at sea, including possible cases of infection; identifying contacts; reporting to the next port; cleaning; disinfection and waste management; disembarkation of a possible case; release from quarantine or isolation; etc.
• Vaccinating the crew;
• Assistance for seafarers to access medical care in ports,
• As of February 28, 2022, the guide has updated information on:
  • testing, symptoms, and management of possible and positive cases of COVID-19 amongst crew members;
  • embarking and disembarking seafarers in accordance with relevant COVID-19 regulations; o repatriation of bodies;
  • an expanded vaccination ‘Key Questions’ section; and best practice posters, including a new poster on vaccinations.

Click to access the updated ICS Guidance

Facilitating Safe Ship Crew Changes

The IMO recommended framework of protocols sets out measures and procedures that should be implemented by all the parties involved in facilitating safe ship crew changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The framework considers both joining a ship and repatriation, comprising a protocol for each step of the journey. Much of the recommendation is aimed at governments and national authorities; however, there are a plethora of sections aimed at shipowners and operators, with particular references made to the ISM Code and the Maritime Labor Convention. The IMO’s Industry Recommended Framework of Protocols for Ensuring Safe Ship Crew Changes and Travel During the Pandemic: Click to access MSC.1/Circ.1636/Rev.1

COVID-19 Contingency and Management Plans onboard Vessels

Shipowners, operators and seafarers are also reminded to implement COVID-19 contingency and management plans onboard their vessels, to include basic protective measures against COVID-19, measures to implement when vessels are calling into ports and when in port, precautions to take with pilot onboard, measures to take during cargo operations, signing off and on seafarers, measures to take when a case is suspected (including testing), medical repatriation, and crew training.

For additional information on COVID-19 management plans, please refer to INTERTANKO: Outbreak Management Plan: COVID.

For additional details on the implementation of COVID-19 management plans for vessels, see WHO’s Implementation guide for COVID-19 management onboard cargo ships and fishing vessels: Interim Guidance (23 December 2021).

For questions concerning this Advisory, please contact this Administration at Mlc@liscr.com or via telephone number (703) 790 3434.

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